Biodegradability and fishing: a horizon still under construction – Biodegradable fishing gear, this is a solution that could reduce marine pollution and counter the phenomenon of ghost fishing. This is the heart of the PE.S.PLA project, which has involved companies, researchers, institutions and artisanal fishing operators in an attempt to reconcile productivity, sustainability and innovation. But the results, while encouraging, highlight technological and regulatory obstacles still to be overcome.
An environmental problem beneath the surface
Every year, some 12,000 tonnes of fishing gear are added to the 550,000 tonnes already in the waters of the European Economic Area. Abandoned or lost pots, nets and longlines become “ghost” gear, capable of continuing to fish for months, silently damaging the marine ecosystem and taking resources away from the productive sector.
The Apulia region, with its consolidated tradition of coastal artisanal fishing, is one of the areas where this problem is most evident. As Roberto D’Ambra of the Agricultural Association explains, ‘the loss of gear made of synthetic materials such as nylon and polypropylene has a prolonged impact that is difficult to contain. A study conducted in Tuscany showed that a lost trammel net can catch up to 14 kg of fish per day for five months, without control or selectivity.
The PE.S.PLA project approach
Starting from this critical issue, the Fishing Without Plastic (PE.S.PLA) project promoted a joint action between scientific bodies, yarn manufacturers, fishermen’s cooperatives and public administrations. The objective: to design biodegradable fishing gear designed for artisanal use, capable of degrading in the marine environment without leaving persistent traces.
Financed by European funds, PE.S.PLA created prototypes of nets and creels made of innovative materials, and started experimental tests to verify their resistance, durability and behaviour at sea. It was a concrete effort towards sustainable design, in line with EU targets on microplastic reduction and ecological transition of fisheries.
However, the first results revealed structural limitations of biodegradable yarns: mechanical fragility, poor sealing and still insufficient durability for practical use. At the same time, the lack of shared regulatory standards on biodegradability at sea has complicated the material evaluation phase.
A scenario still in the making
The research carried out by PE.S.PLA revealed a reluctance on the part of companies to invest in solutions that are not yet ready for large-scale production. Without a clear regulatory framework, structural incentives and technical support, the transition to biodegradable fishing gear risks remaining confined to the experimental level.
Parallel projects such as INdIGO are focusing on the development of static gear with reduced environmental impact, but even here the path is long and conditioned by environmental variables that are difficult to standardise, such as water temperature, salinity and light.
Towards a new paradigm for artisanal fishing
Despite the difficulties, the PE.S.PLA project represents a fundamental step towards a future in which sustainable fishing gear becomes an integral part of design and production. What is needed, however, is a shared vision that involves all players in the chain: institutions, the production world, the fishing community.
The central issue remains the need to create technical standards recognised at European level for biodegradable materials used at sea. Only in this way will it be possible to stimulate research, strengthen the market, and ensure that innovation becomes concrete change.
The challenge of biodegradable fishing gear is still open. Projects like PE.S.PLA have demonstrated the sector’s willingness and potential, but a step change is needed in terms of investments, policies and public-private collaboration.
Biodegradability and fishing: a horizon still under construction
